Lamp-extinguisher.



U. H. KRANTZ.

LAMP EXTINGUISHER.

APPLICATION FILED AFB. 8, 1914.

1 1 08,503, Patented Aug. 25, 1914-,

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CLAS I-I. KRANTZ, 0]? RED WING, MINNESOTA.

LAMP-EXTINGU ISI-IER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1914.

Application filed April 8, 1914. Serial No. 830,856.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CLAs H. KnAN'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Red ing, county of Goodhue, and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Extinguishers, of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to lamp extinguishers, and has for its primary object to provide a simple device, composed of but few readily assembled parts, capable of being easily attached to the ordinary lamps, and which will prove thoroughly eflicient in oporation.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the character set forth which acts not only to extinguish the flame of the lamp, but also to keep the wick trimmed and even, thereby increasing the e'illiciency of the lamp and obviating the usual manual labor necessary in keeping the wick even to produce a uniform and steady flame.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a device as above briefly de' scribed, further characterized by means for firmly retaining the flame snulling element in either operative 0r inoperative position, whereby rough handling or jostling of a lamp when lighted will not cause the snuffing element to accidentally operate to extinguish the flame.

My invention has still further for an object to provide means whereby the lamp may be quickly and effectively extinguished to prevent explosions.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention consists in provid ing upon the deck of a lamp burner, a flame extinguishing or snu'lhng element, the said element being pivotally mounted upon the deck to swing over or away from the upper end of the wick tube of the lamp, a crank mounted in the side of the lamp and adapted to oscillate to operate the flame extinguishing element, and a stop securedto the side of the lamp and adapted to cooperate with the crank to retain the same in either of its extreme positions to hold the extinguishing element either over or away from the upper end of the wick tube.

My invention further consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be fully described hereinafter, and

particularly pointed out in the appended clann.

My invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a lantern with the burner cap removed, and illustrating the application of an em tinguishing device constructed in accordance with my invention, Fig. 2 is an elrwation, partly in section, taken at right angles to the showing in Fig. 1, Fig. 8 is a top plan view of Fig. 1, a part of the burner deck being broken away, and illustrating the extinguisher member in operative position, and, Fig. d is an enlarged detail perspective view of the improved stop employed. in carrying out my invention.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 represents generally an ordinary lantern, which. is provided with near oil. tank or base 1 and with the usual vertically extending top supporting, rim 2, within which is located the burner standard 3 inclosing the wick tube 4. Vhile, to better illustrate the application and operation of my invention, l have illustrated the same, in the present instance, in connection with a lantern, it is to be understood that I do not restrict the use of the device to illuminating devices of this character, but that the device may be applied and operated upon lamps of other and varied. designs with equal efficiency. illustrate the invention, the lantern is shown with the burner cap removed.

In carrying out my invention. 5 indicates an extinguishing element and is formed preferably of a piece of wire of sufficient diameter to form at substantially its medial. portion when flattened, a snufler (3 a trifle greater in width than the wick tube a. The ends of the wire forming the extinguishing element are bent angularly from the said flattened portion to form a pair of shafts 7, adapted to be mounted for rotation in brackets 8 upon the deck of the burner adjacent the wick tube. The end of one of the shafts is bent angularly in a direction opposite to that of the snuliing element to form an arm 9, adapted, when in use, to extend downwardly through one of the draft openings in the burner.

The extinguisher, as thus far described, is mounted in its bearings upon the burner In order to better.

in such position as, when operated to oscillate, to project the flattened portion or snuiiing element over and away from the upper end of the wick tube respectively, and the effect upon a flame upon the wick will be obvious.

In order that the device may be operated efliciently and with the greatest convenience, a crank 10 is provided. This crank is formed preferably of wire, providing at its medial portion a bearing surface, and having its opposite ends bent in substantially the same direction to form a crank arm 11 and a lever 1 respectively. The crank thus formed is mounted to oscillate in av boxing 13 in the rim of the lantern, with the crank arm 11 upon the interior of the said rim, engaging through a loop 1 at its free end the arm 9 depending from tne snufling element, while lever 12 extends outside of the rim in a position to be readily gripped and operated with the fingers. In this manner it will be obvious that the flame extinguishing surface 6 may, at the will of the operator, be controlled to engage over the end of the wick to snufi the flame, and it is also obvious that by operating the lever to cause the snufiing element to frequently contact the wick end, the latter will be kept free of the charred matter which usually accumulates upon the burned end of the wick, and thereby a smooth and even burning of the wick is assured.

For convenience in the application of the crank to a lante n, the rim is slotted from is upper end downwardly a sufiicient distance to permit of the insertion of the crank and its boxing, and in order that the upper portion of the slot may be covered to prevent strong drafts from entering to extinguish the flame, and also that the crank may be more securely held in position, a plate 14 is provided and is adapted to be secured in position to the side of the rim and spanning the slot. This plate is cut away, as at 15, at its lower end to engage over the boxing l3, and when properly positioned with relation to the slot and boxing, may be secured to the rim in any preferred manner, such as by soldering or by riveting. The upper end of the plate is provided with an outwardly extending curved stop 16 which projects beyond the circumference of the rim 2 a distance a trifle greater than the lever 12, so that the latter through its resiliency may be forced thereover from one side to the other in its oscillatory movement. By reason of this stop arrangement, it is obvious that the light cannot be accidently extinguished by the snuiiing element through j olting or moving the lantern, but the lever itself must be gripped and forced from one side of the stop to the other to operate the snuffing element.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the simplicity of construction and arrangement of the several parts renders the device readily applicable to most of the usual well known lamps and lanterns, and it is evident that the cheapness with which the device may be made is a further advantageous feature. It will be apparent that the flame in a lantern or lamp equipped with a device of this character may be quickly and easily extinguished to prevent explosions, without possibility of danger to the operator or without disabling 0r injuring the lamp or lantern.

Having thus described my invention, I claim,

In a lamp comprising a burner surrounded by a vertical rim, a lamp extinguisher comprising a snufling element mounted upon the deck of said burner to oscillate over or away from the end of the wick tube, an arm depending from one end of said element, the said rim provided with a slot extending from its upper edge to a point below the lower end of said dependarm, a bearing in the lower end of said slot, a crank mounted in said bearing and loosely engaging at one end the said depending arm, the opposite end of said crank extending upwardly beside said rim, 9. plate secured to said run to span said slot and to hold said bearing in place, and a stop secured to said plate to be engaged by said lever, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLAS H. KRANTZ.

lVitnesses CH. F. LINDSTEDT, H. W. ANDERSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iatentu, Washington, D. 0. 

